Newbie question on "fit" for those with experience (advice sought)

[yetigooch]

first off, buy the bike that is the most comfortable to you. A comfortable bike is one that you'll ride often. For a road bike, fit is everything. A bike that does not fit properly will cause aches down the road. I would spend the money and get a reputable LBS to fit you properly (I can recommend a few if you live in Seattle). As for components, I personally wouldn't go below shimano 105 if you can afford it (it's like buying a Honda...there are better nicer cars out there but it sure is reliable). Frame material is a personal choice. Don't shy away from carbon if you can afford it and like the ride quality. Carbon frames are much more durable than they use to be....just beware and not buy cheap carbon. Set a price range that you want to spend on a bike and see what falls into that price range. Don't buy carbon just because it's carbon. Personally, I would buy a higher end aluminum bike than a cheaper carbon bike because the ride quality of the higher end aluminum bike will be nicer. Again, a really good LBS should direct you into the right direction.

[Roar]

Thanks, both of you, for your input.

Zia, did your immediate "comfort" on the new bike translate to long-term comfort? Also, out of curiosity, have you done a triathlon on your new bike?

[zia]

It did translate, once I paid $50 for a professional fit. My husband "fit" the bike before my first ride (30 miles), and my shoulders were very sore the second half. The pro fit undid everything he did and put on a longer stem (which I knew I needed when I bought it). When I finish a ride on that bike, I am left wanting more miles! I can fly up hills without getting out of my saddle -- hills that I was definitely out of my saddle for previously. I feel relaxed and strong.

I have -- unfortunately -- not raced on it yet. Just days before my first Olympic race, it was stricken with the 2007 Terry Head Tube Crack Virus, and is now waiting in my bike stable for a replacement frame, due within 6 weeks. I ended up renting a road bike for the race (different brand, similar size), and while the bike shop very patiently tried to get as close to my original bike as possible in terms of measurements, etc., it just wasn't the same. I didn't hurt, but the steering was more barge-like, the gears less responsive, my cadence slightly off... Made me very glad I bought the bike I did!